The award recognizes and commends members of Congress who strive to advance endocrine research and enhance public understanding of health issues pertaining to the field of endocrinology.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Durbin has worked to accelerate and secure financial support for research.

“Sen. Durbin has led the way in acknowledging the importance of biomedical research to all Americans,” said Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, president of the Endocrine Society. “He has fought to increase funding and create new revenue streams for the National Institutes of Health. I’m proud to honor my senator for his tireless efforts to advance research needed to identify the medical treatments of tomorrow.”

In March, Sen. Durbin introduced legislation called the American Cures Act. The proposed bill, endorsed by the Endocrine Society, would create a trust fund to support a mandatory funding stream for biomedical research. The bill would increase funding annually for NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense Health Program, and Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program at a rate of five percent.

Dr. Woodruff presented Sen. Durbin with the award during a ceremony held at McCormick Place today. More than 10,000 endocrinologists are attending the Endocrine Society’s meeting, ICE/ENDO 2014, there this week.

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Founded in 1916, the Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest, largest and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, the Endocrine Society’s membership consists of over 17,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 100 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Washington, DC. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/EndoMedia.